It starts with "now and then" and then it won't let you go – that's how it was for me with wildlife photography!

Hello everyone!

I am Markus, a wildlife photographer, but I would call my self wildlife media producer.
At the beginning of 2020, I decided to focus on wildlife photography. My passion began on numerous trips to the Okinawa Islands in Japan, where I was fascinated by the subtropical nature and especially the underwater world. These experiences led me to diving and underwater videography with a GoPro.

Soon, I wanted to work more professionally and got my first digital camera with interchangeable lenses. While practicing travel and landscape photography, I quickly realized that my true interest lay in the wildlife above and below the sea. Since 2020, I have dedicated myself to the “Wild Nature” (in German Wilde Natur, like the name of this Website) in Japan and at home, photographing and filming animals in their natural environment. The technical and creative process – from planning to image editing – fascinates me and constantly allows me to discover new things.

In the following fictional interview, you can learn more about me. Perhaps this form is more interesting to read than a long ramble.

Enjoy!

Über Mich

 

  • I chose the Sony camera system. The reason was that I already owned the Sony a7III at the beginning, and it had all the features needed for wildlife photography. Ultimately, it's just a tool; Canon, Nikon, and all the others also have good tools. There's no need to turn it into a religion!

  • My main camera for photography is the A1 and a6700. My backup camera is the a7 RIV.

    The lenses I use are the
    Sony 400 mm F2.8,
    Sony 200–600 mm F5.6 / 6.3,
    Sony 100–400 mm F4.5 / 5.6,
    Sony 90 mm f2.8 Macro
    and the
    Sony 1.4x & 2x Telekonverter.

    For travel or landscape photography, I use the Tamron 28–75 mm F2.8.

    The tripods I use are the
    Berlebach UNI 22C,
    Rollei Rock Solid Alpha XL Mark II Carbon,
    Manfrotto XPRO+ Alu und Eckla-Camdisk Bodenstativ

    On the tripods, I use the Flexshooter Pro Leverand a Gimbal-Stativkopf von Neewer.

  • An eagle in flight with a fish in its talons. When I saw a video on YouTube by Tony & Chelsea Northrup, where they photographed a bald eagle with a fish in its talons, I said to myself, I want to do that too. When I started in 2020, I didn't even know it was possible to take such a photo in Germany. Back then, I thought I would have to travel to another country for it. But I got lucky right away and was able to observe and photograph an osprey hunting. You can see the picture in my portfolio "2020 Best-Of".

  • A kingfisher! It was my first goal after I found out through research that it could be found in my area. I was lucky to immediately find a kingfisher's territory. Then it took three consecutive days until I could call my first decent photo of the kingfisher my own. You can see the photo in my portfolio - 2020 Best-Of.

  • No, in my daily life I work in IT management. Photography provides a balance to my office job. Since you need a lot of patience, for example, when waiting in a hide, it's like meditation, grounding me again.

  • In short, on the internet. I look for suitable nature areas and take a hike there to get an overview of the area. On the second visit, I find a spot to sit and observe first. I watch which animals cross my path. In the next step, I look for options where I can position myself best without disturbing the animals.

  • Da gibt es sehr sehr viele, aber eines der schönsten Momente war, als meine Frau & ich 2020 einen Fischadler entdeckt hatten. Und im Jahr 2021 sogar vom NABU zur Beringung der ersten Brut jenes Fischadlers eingeladen wurden. Da wir dieses Tier das ganze Jahr dokumentiert hatten und alle Ereignisse der NABU weiterleiteten. Das war schon ein tolles Erlebnis. Bilder von diesen Erlebnissen mit den Fischadle”

  • Hide (known as "stand hunting" or "still hunting" in English hunting terms). I find the whole process behind it totally thrilling. From finding the location to waiting for the right moment to press the shutter, and in the meantime, being one with nature. You can observe so many things, like animal behavior, unexpected animal actions, and species you didn't expect to see.

Markus Nilles wildlife photographer with camera looks through the viewfinder at wild animals